Free care branded cruel hoax

The Government's free nursing care scheme has proved little more than a "cruel hoax" with thousands of people eligible for free care owed millions in outstanding payments, the Liberal Democrats claimed today.

The Government's free nursing care scheme has proved little more than a "cruel hoax" with thousands of people eligible for free care owed millions in outstanding payments, the Liberal Democrats claimed today.

A report by Paul Burstow, Lib Dem spokesman for older people, said one in five people in England were still waiting for a reduction in their fees - months after the Government introduced its scheme.

This amounts to £11.9m in outstanding payments, he said,

Free registered nursing care for all English nursing home residents who were self-funding their care was introduced on October 1, 2001. An estimated 42,000 residents benefited, a Department of Health spokeswoman said.